Chapter 16
HUDSON
Three days after the interview dropped, the world was still buzzing, but the worst of the frenzy around Serena had finally eased.
The headlines had shifted from wondering if we were breaking up to me being open about my feelings.
The paparazzi who’d been focused on getting photos of her had cleared out from in front of her house, chasing new stories that paid better.
She and Avery were back home, but I still hadn’t seen her.
We’d been texting and even talked on the phone a few times. Short, careful exchanges that felt like walking across thin ice. She was guarded, and I was trying not to push. Every word from her felt like a small victory I didn’t deserve.
This morning, though, I was done waiting on the sidelines.
Avery had texted me late last night. The speech and debate tournament her team was hosting needed extra hands. The coaches were short-staffed, and having two recognizable faces helping out would earn Avery major points. She’d volunteered both of us.
I replied yes without hesitation.
Now I stood on Serena’s front porch at seven thirty in the morning, holding a tray with two lattes and a matcha lemonade from her favorite spot and a small paper bag with the chocolate croissants Serena couldn’t resist and the breakfast sandwich Avery liked.
When the door opened, Serena stood there in leggings and an oversized sweater, her hair in a messy bun, looking surprised and wary.
Behind her, Avery peeked out with a guilty little grin. “Thanks for letting me volunteer you.”
“I’m happy to help.” I lifted the cup holder higher. “I brought a peace offering—your favorites from Beachwood Café.”
Serena’s gaze flicked from the cups to my face. “Avery asked you to help with the tournament?”
“She did,” I confirmed. “But I wanted to stop by first, make sure you were okay with me being there. I don’t want you to feel awkward in front of everyone else if you’re not ready yet.”
Serena crossed her arms, but the corner of her mouth twitched. “You agreed to spend your Saturday judging high school debates and running the snack table?”
“I’d judge kindergarten finger-painting if it meant spending time near you two.” I held her gaze, hoping she could see how much I meant what I was saying. “You and Avery are my priorities. Both of you.”
Avery snorted from behind her sister. “He’s trying, Sis. Give him a point for showing up with caffeine.”
Serena exhaled a soft laugh that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “I guess it’s better than burning your stuff on the lawn.”
I blinked. “Burning my stuff?”
Avery grinned. “Inside joke. You had to be there.”
Serena shook her head, but she stepped aside. “Come in. We leave in twenty minutes. And if you make this weird for Avery, I will personally escort you out.”
“Understood.” She had nothing to worry about, but I got why she doubted me.
Serena and Avery ate the breakfast I brought over and finished their drinks while I sipped my latte, enjoying being in their space.
Then I got even luckier when Avery suggested, “We might as well take your car. It’s silly to take two when we’re going to the same place.
Especially when one of the potential topics today is pollution.
I don’t want to be a hypocrite if I end up on the affirmative side of the energy transition debate. ”
Serena narrowed her eyes at her sister. “Yeah, driving my hybrid SUV seven whole miles would be just tragic for the environment.”
“That’s seven miles each way,” Avery pointed out with a mischievous gleam in her eyes. “And we should probably factor in the larger initial carbon footprint from battery production.”
“I’m not going to stand here debating this with you,” Serena muttered.
“Good one.” Avery giggled and clapped her sister on the back. “The debate before the debate.”
Serena rolled her eyes. “Let’s go.”
The drive to the school was quiet but not hostile. I kept stealing glances at Serena’s profile, terrified that one wrong word would send her back behind the wall I’d helped build. I had spent months making her feel unseen. Today, I needed her to feel chosen.
Avery chattered from the back seat about her debate topic while Serena stared out the window. I kept my hands on the wheel and my mouth mostly shut, letting them lead.
Avery’s coach did a double take when he saw me. “Hudson Holt. Avery said you might stop by. We’re short on timers for the novice rounds. Think you can help out there?”
“I can handle explosions on a movie set. I should be fine with a stopwatch.”
Serena shot me a sideways look, appearing amused at my reply.
The morning passed by in a blur of activity.
It didn’t give me much time to spend with Serena, but I enjoyed timing debates in the gym, staying in the back so I wouldn’t distract the kids.
When Avery took the stage for her round, I faded even further into the shadows, just watching her shine.
She was confident, quick on her feet, and passionate about the topic.
The pride I felt in her was unexpected. But the kid had been through so much, and here she was, holding her own.
During the break, I helped restock the snack table. Serena was there too, and our hands brushed when I passed her a stack of cups. She didn’t pull away immediately.
Leaning closer, she murmured, “You didn’t have to do this.”
“I know.” I kept my voice low. “But I wanted to. Avery deserves to have people show up for her. And I needed you to see that I’m listening.”
She looked at me for a moment, something soft flickering in her eyes before the guard slid back into place. “It’s a start.”
A group of kids recognized me and asked for photos. I smiled and signed a couple of programs. But when one pulled out his phone, I shook my head. “Not today, guys. I’m here for Avery and her team. Let’s keep the focus on them.”
I caught Serena watching me from across the table. The softening in her expression was worth more than any fan moment.
Mr. Harrison found me later, thanking me profusely. “The kids are thrilled. Any chance you’d be willing to come back for the spring invitational?”
I glanced at Serena, who was helping Avery organize note cards a few feet away. “If Serena and Avery are okay with it, I’d love to.”
Serena heard her name and looked over. She gave a small, reluctant nod.
It felt better than any award I’d received.
In the afternoon, I helped judge a couple of impromptu rounds.
I kept my feedback kind but honest, remembering how terrifying public speaking used to be for me before acting forced me to get over it.
One nervous freshman left the room standing a little taller after I told her she had natural presence.
During the final break, I pulled Avery aside near the water fountain. “Thank you for inviting me.”
Avery studied me with blue eyes that reminded me so much of her sister. “I didn’t do it for you. I did it for her. I’ve never seen her happier than when she was with you. Before you messed up. But if you hurt her again, I will personally help her burn your stuff on the lawn. And I’ll film it.”
I smiled even though it was obvious she meant the threat. “Fair. I deserve that.”
She softened a fraction. “Just do me a favor and keep showing up. Words are cheap. Actions aren’t.”
“I’m learning that.”
When the tournament wrapped, the three of us walked back to the car together. Avery chattered about her wins while Serena stayed quiet. I opened the passenger door for her out of habit. She paused, then slid in without comment.
The drive home was more relaxed than the drive there.
At the house, Avery bounded inside to change, leaving Serena and me standing in the driveway.
“I brought something for you.” I reached into the glove compartment to pull out a carefully wrapped package. “It’s not flashy. Just something that reminded me of us.”
She took it and carefully undid the wrapping paper. Inside was a worn copy of the script from the chick flick we’d filmed together. It was the original annotated version with both our notes scribbled in the margins.
Serena’s fingers traced her own handwriting on the first page. The note I’d scribbled during our first table read when I’d told her I was only doing the movie because my mom begged me. Her eyes glistened.
“You kept this?” she whispered.
“Of course I did.” I flipped toward the middle of the script.
“This was the scene where I first realized I was falling for you. Not the character. I wanted you to have this to help you remember that the guy who fell for you is still here. He just got lost for a while trying to be loyal to the wrong person.”
“It’s a beautiful gesture, Hudson.” She closed the script and cradled it against her chest. “Thank you.”
“My pleasure.” I took one careful step closer. “I’m going to keep showing up until I’ve proven you can believe me.”
I could see the war in her eyes—the part of her that wanted to believe me fighting against the memory of every time I’d chosen wrong.
“You showed up for Avery today. That’s a step in the right direction.”
It wasn’t forgiveness. But it wasn’t a door slammed in my face either.
She turned toward the house, then paused. “Avery has another tournament in six weeks. If you’re serious about showing up, you could help again.”
“I’ll be there.”
She gave me a faint smile. “I guess we’ll see.”
“You will.”
I poured as much sincerity into my voice as I could, and it must’ve worked because she searched my face before suggesting, “Maybe we shouldn’t wait that long until we see each other again.”
“Tell me when and where, and I’ll be there.”
She turned to walk into her house. Pausing in the doorway, she looked over her shoulder at me. “You did so well today, I think I’ll let you figure that out.”
I still had a long way to go, but she was giving me a chance to prove myself. That was more than I expected. Or deserved.